Maggie Kingsley – a tribute by Caroline Anderson and Kate Hardy

We’re still pretty much in shock at the news that Maggie Kingsley passed
away unexpectedly last weekend, and our hearts go out to her family.

We’ve known Maggie for more than ten years, as fellow Medical Romance
authors, and her warmth, generosity of spirit and sheer common sense will be
very much missed. If anyone had a problem, Maggie would be the first person to
ring or email with a message of support. Can’t see the wood for the trees?
Maggie was the one who’d help you sort it out. Something to celebrate? She’d be
there waving the flags for you.

We were privileged to work with her on the Penhally and St Piran’s
series, and she was so easy to work with. Her sense of humour always defused
the little frustrations that can happen when you work on a continuity book, and
she made the whole experience rewarding and fulfilling.

Maggie wrote really emotional stories – her Belfield Infirmary series
will remain in a lot of readers’ hearts. She wasn’t afraid of tackling
difficult subjects (and only she could’ve pulled off a topic as emotional as ‘A
Baby for Eve’). And she wrote the best ‘marriage in jeopardy’ story ever with
‘The Surgeon’s Marriage’.

She was a great person to bounce ideas off; if you’d written yourself
into a corner, Maggie would come up with some great suggestions about how to
fix it. She also had a wicked sense of humour, and let’s just say there were
dares about what we could get past our mutual editor…

And we weren’t the only people who thought so highly of her, judging by
the torrent of tributes that have poured into our inboxes since her sister
asked us to spread the tragic news of her death.The overwhelming reaction is one of huge
loss, of respect and admiration for a person who never failed to fight your
corner or support you privately in a moment of need.She was the most unassuming, modest, funny,
articulate, tactful, passionate and compassionate person you could wish to
meet, and the world is a sadder place without her.

Maggie was always there, in sunshine and in showers, and it just doesn’t
seem possible that she’s gone. It’d be nice to think she was up there, with a
glass of whisky in one hand and ginger chocolate in the other, and her spaniel
at her knee, rolling her eyes and saying we were being totally soft Southerners
and of course she’ll still be here in spirit.

20 comments:

I never had the opportunity to read her books but a quick search as left me with a amazing impression her books sounded wonderful. I am so sorry for her family and friends I offer my sincere condolences to you all.

I will miss her so much in the Harlequin.com community. She was always so supportive of the writers trying to get published in the Medical Romance line.

The first time I "met" her was when she commented on one of my reviews of her book Dr. Mathieson's Daughter. Thankfully, I LOVED that book so I didn't have to feel badly that our first encounter was anything but positive.

She was the reason I wanted to go to Scotland. I mean, the castles and whatever would be nice to see, but mostly I wanted to meet her and her family in person.

I send all my condolences to her friends and family but most of all to her sister, niece, and nephew.

thank you so much for this lovely tribute to Maggie. As a fellow Medical Romance author, I am still reeling with the sad news of her sudden passing. I had always hoped to meet Maggie one day as she has been every single thing you mentioned in the blog for me as well. I's sum Maggie Kingsley up as a real quality person, and I am so glad I had the opportunity for my path to cross with hers on this journey.I keep saying, I just cannot believe she is gone, and the world has lost a truly inspiring person.

Maggie was one of the main reasons I loved and tried to write for Medical Romance - she hit raw nerves with her writing - sometimes I would read a sentence she wrote and feel sure it was aimed at me - that was her gift - she spoke to so many women.Rest in peace Maggie cxxxx

I loved her A Wife Worth Waiting For, in which the hero, whose first wife died and who is now in love with a heroine who's had Hodgkin's lymphoma, says that "there are no certainties in life." I know there aren't, but it was still a huge shock to learn that Maggie herself had died.

I loved A Wife Worth Waiting For, too, Laura. I loved the spunky heroine who rode into town on her motorcycle, short, spiky red hair, shaking up the town, helping the hero realize he was a vital living human, not an old fuddy dud.

Oh, and the belly dancing lessons! thanks so much for reminding me about this wonderful book.

Thank you Kate and Caroline, this is a perfect tribute to a wonderful lady. Every word is exactly how I thought of her too, we shared a lot, and our fairly recent friendship meant so very much to me. I too am still shocked and saddened. Maggie, I'll miss you.

I cry every time I think about Maggie. Thank you for the wonderful tribute. She was the most amazing stalwart...a friend, a sage, someone who made you laugh. RIP, Maggie. You are so desperately missed.

I cry every time I think about Maggie. Thank you for the wonderful tribute. She was the most amazing stalwart...a friend, a sage, someone who made you laugh. RIP, Maggie. You are so desperately missed.

A lovely tribute to a lovely lady, thank you Kate and Caroline. Maggie had the rare gift of being able to inspire others, and she did so with humour, good sense and generosity of spirit. Thank you for making me believe that I can be better than I am, Maggie. Rest in Peace xx

My heart is breaking for all of Maggie's friends and family. She gave of herself to the folks she met on the Harlequin boards. She doled on encouragement to all of us trying to to write a medical. She loved her niece and nephew so much.

Thank you, Kate and Caroline, for sharing your experiences and memories with Maggie. I only knew her by reputation, but it was a grand one. I am sorry not to have known her, and I envy those of you who did. I'm glad that she's given us wonderful books to keep to remember her by.

I'd like to add my tribute here. As everyone has said, Maggie was such a generous woman and writer, full of knowledge about writing and the writing business and always, always ready to share that. She will be sorely missed by so many.